Alt Pairing Reflections - What are your thoughts?

[Eienvine]

It can definitely be fun to have very alternate pairings every now and then. I think I read a one shot once that was Wufei/Catherine. Now that's entertainment! As for obscure pairings not working because the characters had no interaction- well, they could have met later. So really, you can make nearly anything work.

As for pairings of more than two people, I personally don't like them, because unless they all decide to live in some sort of communal state, eventually someone's going to go home with nothing. I don't like that- I like everyone to end up happy (unless it's angst, of course.) I know that's a pretty whiny reason not to like them, but . . . I mean, everyone I know is getting snubbed and having their hearts broken all the time. Why would I want to read about it for pleasure?

And I agree with everyone on character bashing. The only way an alternate pairing really works for me is if there's a legitimate reason for the canon pairing to not be there. I hate fics where Duo's making overtures to Sally (to pick two charas at random), and when she asks about Hilde, Duo replies that Hilde recently turned into some variety of terrible person with no warning or cause, so would Sally please make out with him? If you want a character out of the picture, please give us a believable idea of where she went.

PS If anybody's having a hard time with my name, just call me Ei. I guess I should have thought harder about using a made-up word as a screen name.

[Silent Moon Sphinx]

It's so interesting to see what pairings people lean towards. Also inspiring for fanfic authors!

Midii Une- don't worry about the double post, I took care of it! (for some reason, only mods can delete posts)

Anyway, I just wanted to clear up what I said about Trowa x Midii Une. I realized I had very poor word choice. I support all canon pairings, including those revealed by GW manga not included in the anime. Not all people do. When I said Trowa x Midii Une was obscure, I actually meant the manga story itself in the scheme of the long GW timeline, NOT the relationship between characters as presented in the story. I do believe from Episode Zero that Trowa cared for Midii Une and she for him, even under the unhappy circumstances. In fact, that was probably my favorite story in the book. But even though Episode Zero is official, it isn't exactly canon (as it wasn't mentioned in the original anime), and GW fans still debate today whether Trowa is Catherine's sister and whatnot, although it's generally accepted now that he is. I just remember waaaaaay back in the day before Episode Zero was released in the US and most people didn't know there was such a thing. During that time, Trowa x Cathy were paired up, and I really didn't like that because I couldn't see them together in a romantic way. That's why I was interested in alternate pairings, because I was sad Trowa really didn't end up with a romantic counterpart. I suppose that's why I still lean towards such pairings, because I got into them before Midii Une was revealed. But I definitely read Trowa x Midii Une stories, and it takes a good author to write them and make them work, and I salute the authors who do.

I guess in the end it does take a good author to make pairings work. I remember a really great Quatre x Noin fic that I read. Now, I would have never thought of that pairing before in my life, but somehow, the author made the storyline thoughtful, natural, and believable.

And I suppose that ultimately, it comes down to a reader's personal preferences which characters they have an affinity towards seeing with others, or, in some cases, with only *one* other character. **cough**HeerowithonlyRelena **cough, cough**

And I guess that's what I was most interested in when making this thread- why people like certain pairings or what constitutes a successful alternate pairing story in people's minds. It's just a matter of opinions and preferences, but I think it's fun to have a place to share your favorites.

**Nudges authors** I see a trend of interest towards a Dorothy and Heero story. Any takers?

(and finally Sphinx's master plan to get more new alt stories is revealed....*evil laughter abounds*) Just kidding... or am I?

[RyanEX2000]

I guess in the end it does take a good author to make pairings work. I remember a really great Quatre x Noin fic that I read. Now, I would have never thought of that pairing before in my life, but somehow, the author made the storyline thoughtful, natural, and believable.

I don't think it was all that surprising. What's surprising to me is how few of those there are.

I mean, Quatre did rather defer a lot to Noin over the course of their working together. And it was quite possible for him to develop a sort of schoolboy crush on the older woman. So I think that pairing kind of inhabits the gray area between canon and alt.

Personally I don't think Trowa and Cathy are related. For one they look nothing alike. And Cathy is SO much better looking .
The pairing probaly wouldn't work since Cathy looks at him like a little brother (pictures wimpy, amnesiac Trowa...and gags at all the sighing fangirls).

Ugh bad idea.

(Pictures Dory-chan in black negligee and holding a whip) Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.

Anyway... back on track

And I suppose that ultimately, it comes down to a reader's personal preferences which characters they have an affinity towards seeing with others, or, in some cases, with only *one* other character. **cough**HeerowithonlyRelena **cough, cough**

Very true. Care to give your view on my theory?

Pairings involving one character depend on the author's gender.

[Beck]

Man, I am soooooooooooooo behind on posting fics here. I have a 3x11 lemon that my friend Anna did as a sidefic of what happend the night before my "No Regets" ficlet. Also, since I saw them mentioned 4x9, a friend of mine had a GW back to school smut a thon and we had to say what we would write and who we wouldn't write about. I was soooooooooooooo shocked that the girl who was picked mine, had to write 3x11 and for an added bonus, 4x9 (cause I also requested them in my list of who I wanted to see written). I gotta post that fic here, its just *guhguhGUH!* , not for the faint at heart if you can't tolerate too much smut

I'll add more of my two cents about this topic when I get more time.

[Teankun]

Okay,

First of all I am die hard 1xR. There is too much attraction in the series (more in the manga) to sway me. I just cannot see Relena going with anyone else. Also, very Ying-Yang. With a little bit of arm twisting I can see 1xC , 1x9, or 1x90 (Sylvia). BTW, again on character bashing, I do not linke fics were Sylvia blackmails Heero to leave Relena.

I am even more die hard 2xH. I cannot see either of them with anyone else (period!). True, Duo flirted with Relena, but I see that as him encouraging Heero, and Hilde said she could go for a guy like Trowa, but saw that as her trying to make Duo jelous.

Speaking of Trowa, we all know the problems with 3xC, but I can see 3x1.2(Midii). I think 3x1.1(Une) has lots of potential, however I don't like most 3x1.1 fics because the are way too lemony. (Sorry, Beck) That is why, War Dove, I liked your "Expecting the Unexpecxted" so much, no graphic sex, but lots of angst. There needs to be more sap and angst 3x1.1

I like 4xD best (for Quat') because I see simular Yin-Yang as I do in 1xR (only the genders are reversed). Otherwise, I also really like 4xC. However, I can't stand 4xR ! That would have to be my least favorite alternative pairing. It just gives me the creeps for some reason.
On the other hand, my favorite alt pairing is 4x9. Seemed to me that he had a crush on her during the series (My personal evidence that he is straight).
But a pairing I would love to see with Quatre is...well, actually "pairing" would be the wrong word. Afterall, how else did his dad manage 30 kids? Yeah, right right, test tubes ;p
I would like to see a Dx4xC fic. Love triangle is okay, but no character bashing. The occasional cat fight is okay, but not to make either girl look too bad (not even Dorothy).
How is this for a fanfic challenge? Set up is Quatre wakes up finding Dorothy beside him in bed. As he backs off in suprise, he finds out he is also in bed with Catherine. Any takers?

Oh, and as for Wufei? Who cares?

[Tobo Castit]

Wow, you leave town for a couple of months and they change everything. I haven't been in here since November...

Personally, I'm with just about every other female in here when I say that Relena and any of the other pilots (yes, even Wufei, I've seen it work really well!) is completely fine, but Heero with someone else is just too odd. But then again, there was a time when either of them could not be with anyone else in my mind, because I watched the show too often to have that pairing out of my head. There are some authors who have sold Heero/Hilde to me, but there was still that vague feeling of wrongness in the back of my mind...

As for threesomes... Now that's an odd situation. Those fics are almost always about smut and I never read fics just for smut value. However, there was one I read about how poor little emotionally confused Relene invites Duo to stay at her home, thus setting them up for some big problems when Heero is back in the picture. It was a good fic, and though my personnal bias against three way pairings is still there, the universal rule of fanfiction writing seems to apply there: If a good author writes it, then people will read and like it.

My complete favorite alternative couples are (don't hurt me Ryan) Trowa/Relena (I can see why you think he's Heero's clone though...) and Wufei/Relena- Now THAT'S an obscure coupling. Now I know nearly everyone has trouble seeing that working, but just think about it. He's a well-educated and thoughtful individual who can challange her intellectually. She has an inner strength he has to admire and at the same time does not aspire for physical strength- which he sees as the realm of men (Sally Poe and Noin being soldiers really bothered him, remember? Although he did learn to respect them later...) I know it's not likely, but put together the right set of circumstances and you may have something.

Well, I hope I've added to the discussion, everyone's brought up such interesting points I may have to do some more reading in here...

[Waking Dreamer]

Tobo, you'll have to provide a link for the Wufei/Relena coupling. I don't mind Wufei that much-- after reading Episode Zero, I gained a new level of respect for him. For me, if I had to choose between the five pilots, hell yeah, I would choose Trowa or Heero before the others.

Teakun, I think you should write the Catherine x Quatre x Dorothy story! Sounds intriguing!

[Teankun]

Maybe I should clarify that in a Dx4xC fic that it would concentrate more on the relationship and not the sex. No smut. (Absolutly no yuri!) The set up I gave was just that, a set up. Anyfic written from that I would like to concentrate how they dealt with the situation and not how they got into it.

This reminds me of a parody fic in which Trowa romance both Une girls (1.1x3x1.2), and then gets both Anne and Midii pregnant (problem was resolved with Quatre abopting Trowa so he could marry both).

I would really like try a 4x-multiple-characters fic (maybe throw Noin in, too, but not Relena) if I ever get done with my Forgotten Worlds epic. I just thought it would be neat from someone elses perspective.

[RyanEX2000]

My complete favorite alternative couples are (don't hurt me Ryan) Trowa/Relena

(twitch, twitch) Since you're new Tobo I'll let it slide...for now.

I'll agree wiith you in regards to the threesomes. They generally are just for smut value, although some attempt at storyline in some.

Personally, I'm with just about every other female in here when I say that Relena and any of the other pilots (yes, even Wufei, I've seen it work really well!) is completely fine, but Heero with someone else is just too odd.

You've been corrupted my son. We guys should be allowed to have our pick of the litter...

B.I girls - "LITTER!!!!"

Ryan - "Be silent women, I'm talking here. Anyways, I can see Heero with just about any of the G-girls, although, when I'm not working on Superposition with Beer I often think on obscure, crossover pairings.

Heero x Violet (Incredibles)

Heero x Sheego (Kimpossible {YES I watch it, so sue me })

Heero x Sango (Inuyasha)

I especially like the last one .

[Calla Lily]

Alt. pairings is a place where the writers are not limited to canon/fanon couples so it's always great to read some different material out there, it puts a new dynamic and perspective on people that you've never thought before, just like the aforementioned <i>"Choice is Overrated."</i>

But I feel the need to say that I have a certain fondness for Quatre/Catherine, I'd like to see a spark or some sort of connection between them that might not necessarily be about Trowa.